George Zimmerman Responds To Confederate Flag Painting Controversy: Why He Supports 'Muslim-Free' Florida Gun Store

Former neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, who shot and killed unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in February 2012, issued a Twitter response Tuesday after he received backlash for painting a Confederate flag to help raise money for a “Muslim-free” gun store in Florida. Zimmerman, 31, is not active on social media, but took to his account to explain himself.

“I painted the confederate flag backed by the American flag because I believe that anything can stand with the American flag behind it,” he wrote. “My confederate flag painting also represents the hypocrisy of political correctness that is plaguing this nation.”

He continued: “Politicians across US demanded its removal however, not 1 leader including, B. Hussein O. asked 4 the $10k bounty on my head be removed.” Zimmerman finished his posts by asking his followers to help “keep up the fight” and shared a link to Georgenandy.com. The site was unavailable Tuesday afternoon.

Zimmerman teamed up for the painting with Andy Hallinan, the owner of Florida Gun Supply in Inverness, Yahoo News wrote Tuesday. People who donate $50 to the “cause” will receive a copy of Zimmerman’s original painting. The flag reads, “The 2nd protects our 1st.”

Hallinan said all people of the Muslim faith are a threat to Americans, which is why he didn’t want to supply them with weapons. Zimmerman said he chose to work with Hallinan because he doesn’t think the Confederate flag and racism are synonymous.

“Labeling everyone and anyone that has a Confederate flag as a racist is just not right,” Zimmerman told Hallinan, according to Yahoo News. “That’s one of the reasons I chose to reach out to you and see what I can do to help.”

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